USDA Issues Second Economic Assistance Payment to Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a second round of Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payments for the 2024 crop year, providing additional support for producers facing market volatility, rising input costs, and falling commodity prices.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already distributed more than $8 billion of the $10 billion authorized for ECAP. With funds remaining, this second payment will bring total assistance up to 99% of eligible payment levels for producers who applied through the program earlier this year.

How the Second Payment Works

• Automatic ntsPayme: Producers who previously received an initial ECAP payment will automatically get the second payment — no additional action required.
• One Lump Sum for Late Approvals: Applications approved after September 25, 2025, will receive a single combined payment.
• Calculation: ECAP payments are based on planted or prevented planted acres for eligible commodities in 2024, not on actual production. Prevented planted acres are paid at 50%.

The second payment factor equals 14% of the total ECAP amount, raising the final assistance level to 99%.